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g
he earliest predecessor of
the North Carolina Board of
Nursing was the Board of Examiners
of Trained Nurses of North Carolina.
It was established by the General
Assembly of 1903 for the purpose of
maintaining a satisfactory level of
competency within the nursing
profession. Primary functions of the
board involved the examination and
licensing of qualified candidates. For due
cause, the board could revoke a license
following a full hearing and majority
vote by the board. The five-member
board consisted of two physicians and
three registered nurses who were to be
elected by the Medical Society of the
State of North Carolina and the North
Carolina State Nurses’ Association
respectively. Members served terms of
three years. In 1917 the legislature
reestablished the board and made it
1903 Nurse’s Certificate
identical in composition to its
predecessor. Under terms of the new
legislation, however, the board was
empowered to frame and enforce
regulations and to use its own seal.
The General Assembly of 1925
repealed the consolidated statutes
pertaining to the board and recreated
the board under the new name of
Board of Nurse Examiners of North
Carolina—later referred to in legislation
T I M E L I N E
as North Carolina Board of Nurse
Examiners. Composed of five members,
the board was to include three registered
nurses elected by the North Carolina
State Nurses’ Association, and one
representative each from the North
Carolina State Hospital Association
and the Medical Society. The new
board retained all powers granted its
predecessors. Additionally, the legislature
established a standards committee to
advise the board on matters including he
classification and standardization of
schools of nursing.
In a legislative act of 1947, the
General Assembly enlarged the board to
include three practical nurses appointed
by the Practical Nurses Association of
Durham and the Undergraduate and
Practical Nurses Organization, Inc.
Their participation on the board
however, was limited to matters relating
1 9 0 3 - 2 0 0 3
continued
1903
1904
1917
1925
First state to enact a nurse
registration law. No office –
staff worked from home.
The first meeting was held
in Greensboro, NC.
Criteria for license eligibility
included having graduated
from a school of nursing or
having practiced as a nurse for
at least five years. Additionally
each applicant had to submit
two letters of recommendation.
The first licensure examination
for registered nurses was given
in Raleigh on May 24, 25,
1904. Six women successfully
completed that examination.
Titled: “The Board of
Examiners of Trained Nurses
of NC”. Five (5) members:
3 RNs 2 MDs – elected by
NCNA and Medical Society.
Titled: “Board of Nurse
Examiners”. Five (5)
members: 3 RNs; 1 rep.
From Medical Society;
1 rep. from Hospital
Association.
Mary Lewis Wyche was the
first person appointed to the
NC Board of Examiners and
so is recognized as the first
registered nurse in the U.S.
During her first year on the
Board, 35 nurses were
licensed. First state-registered
nurse, Josephine Burton was
licensed in Craven County on
June 4, 1903. Also licensed in
1903 was the first African
American Nurse, Annie Lowe
Rutherford, a graduate
of Freedman’s Hospital
in Washington, DC.
to the examination, licensing, and
regulation of undergraduate and
practical nurses.
In 1953 the legislature repealed
all codified statutes pertaining to the
current board and created the North
Carolina Board of Nurse Registration
and Nursing Education. It consisted of
nine members, all of whom were to be
appointed and commissioned by the
governor. Of these, five members were
to be registered nurses who were
licensed to practice within the state.
Two members were to be physicians
experienced in teaching nurses; and two
were to be representatives from
hospitals, which operated schools of
nursing. Under the terms of the
legislative act, powers of the board were
expanded, particularly in the areas of
license regulation and school curriculum
development and accreditation. In an act
of 1955, the legislature gave the board
the new designation of North Carolina
Board of Nurse Registration and
Nursing Education Enlarged.
Marion Laurance, first president
of the Board of Nurse Examiners.
The legislature of 1965 transferred
all functions of the board to a body it
named the North Carolina Board of
Nursing. Similar in composition to its
predecessor, the board’s membership
was increased to twelve. Its three new
members were to be licensed practice
nurses. Their participation on the board,
however, was limited to actions, which
affected practice nursing. Terms of all
members were increased to four years.
Under this legislation, known as the
Nurse Practice Act, the board’s functions
now included monitoring all courses,
which prepared students for licensing
examinations. It also empowered the
board to employ an executive director
and other personnel and agents deemed
necessary to carry out provisions of the
act. In 1973 legislation was passed
permitting the board to work with the
Board of Medical Examiners in establishing regulations for registered nurses
performing certain medical procedures.
In an effort to reform state licensing
and regulatory agencies, the General
Assembly of 1977 created the
Governmental Evaluation Commission,
also known as the Sunset commission.
In its review, the commission concluded
that the Board of Nursing should continue, but with certain modifications.
Several of its recommendations were
implemented in a legislative act of 1981.
Under that legislation, the governor was
to appoint two lay members to represent
the public at large. Terms of office were
T I M E L I N E
1928
1929
1936
1937
1940
1944
Office for Education Director
established in Mt. Airy.
The first man, Ben Harrison,
was licensed as a registered
nurse in NC by endorsement
from Pennsylvania.
Office moved from
Mt. Airy to Raleigh –
2 Professional Building Annex.
State Board License
Examination –
handwritten by staff.
Office moved to McDowell
Building, Raleigh.
Exam – Test
Pool Series
National
League of
Nursing
Education.
Early nursing exams
from 1919 and 1923
changed to three years and limited to
two consecutive terms. Immunity from
criminal prosecution and civil liability
was granted to those who in good faith
reported any violation of the Nurse
Practice Act. With the exception of
those protected by the preceding
provision, all in violation of this
legislation could be charged with a
misdemeanor. The legislation of 1981
made other significant changes in the
board’s composition and its appointment
procedures. Position once held by physicians and hospital administrators were
abolished as soon as incumbents had
completed their terms of office. In
addition to the two public members, the
board would now consist of nine registered nurses and four licensed practical
nurses. These were to be selected in a
statewide election in which all registered
nurses and licensed practical nurses could
vote for representatives from their
respective fields. Those elected were then
commissioned by the governor. The
General Assembly of 1983 provided for
Adeline Orr, first trained nurse
to practice in NC.
regulation of midwifery under the
Midwifery Practice Act. It would be
administered by a joint midwifery committee including the joint sub-committee
of the Board of Nursing and Board of
Medical Examiners, plus two practicing
certified nurse-midwives and two physicians practicing in obstetrics. In 1989 the
Board of Nursing was empowered to
establish and maintain a Nurses Aides’
Registry, and in 1990 all legislation relevant to the board was consolidated and
recodified as the Nursing Practice Act.
The General Assembly of 1999
amended the Nursing Practice Act to
include legislation that would protect the
title “nurse”. This legislative states that
no one may use the title nurse unless the
person is currently licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practice nurse as
provided by this Act.
The General Assembly of 1999
provided for implementation of the
Nurse Licensure Compact, Article 9G
of Chapter 90. This extends the
“privilege to practice” nursing in North
Carolina to nurses licensed in other
states that have enacted this compact.
The General Assembly of 2001
provided for additional regulation in
the Nursing Practice Act, which required
criminal background checks of applicants
for licensure.
During the General Assembly of
2003, there is pending legislative related
to Board composition and tenure,
mandatory employer verification of
licensure status, and creation of a
registered nurse or licensed practical
nurse retired licensure status.
continued
1 9 0 3 - 2 0 0 3
1947
1949
1950
1953
Registration of Practical Nurses
enacted. There were two
Boards: NC Board of Nurse
Registration and Nursing
Education (Article 9)
and NC Board of Nurse
Registration and Nursing
Education, Enlarged
(Article 9A, which included
three (3) LPN members to
address practical nurse
matters).The first nurse was
licensed as a Licensed Practical
Nurse, Myerl R. Allen.
Ms Myerl also served
on the Enlarged Board.
Requirement of annual
renewal of license
(Fee: $1.00)
Exam: Test Pool 2 subjects
(Nutrition and Medical
Nursing).
Exam – Test Pool
(10 Parts).
Exam – Test Pool (6 Parts).
Nine (9) members:
Five (5) RNs; Two (2)
representatives from Hospitals
operating nursing schools; two
(2) MDs with experience in
teaching nurses. All appointed
by the Governor. Renewal fee:
$2.00. Executive Secretary to
be employed.
Office moved to Warren
Building (306 S. Dawson
Street, Raleigh).
1954
Exam – Test Pool
(5 Parts).
1959
1964
June –
First Bulletin
issued.
Office
destroyed by
fire.
February 10, 1903 newspaper article reporting a battle over a bill providing for state regulations concerning trained nurses.
T I M E L I N E
1965
1975
Act defined practice of RN and
LPN. Combined Article 9 and
9A. Title: NC Board of Nursing.
Governor appointed: Twelve
(12) members: 5 RNs; 2 MDs;
2 Hospital Administrators
of Hospitals operating nursing
school; 3 LPNs – only participate when related to LPNs.
Executive Director to be
employed. Mandatory licensure
for all nurses (RN and LPN).
First state to
permit RNs to
prescribe (Nurse
Practitioners).
Renewal fee: $2.50/yr –
renew for 2 yrs ($5.00).
Office located at 425 N. Boylan
Ave., Raleigh (Park Building).
1981
1983
Major revisions to NPA. All
members address all issues.
First Board to elect nurse
members. Fifteen (15)
members: 9 RNS; 4 LPNs;
2 appointed by the Governor.
Nurse Midwifery Act
Exam: NCLEX by National
Council of State Boards of
Nursing.
Act listed powers including
subcommittee with Medical
Board for Nurse Practitioners.
Temporary license
implemented.
Office moved to Jones Street,
Raleigh.
1989
1986
1987
Office moved to corner
of Hillsborough and
Boylan Avenue, Raleigh.
NA Registry. Exam: NCLEX – report
as Pass/Fail.
Office moved to 3724
National Drive, Raleigh.
First business meeting minutes of the 1910-1912 Board
Excerpt from 1904 Board of Examiners’ Treasurer’s Book.
1 9 0 3 - 2 0 0 3
1994
1995
1996
1999
2000
Exam – NCLEX – Computer
Adaptive Test (CAT).
Collaborative Practice
Act passed: allows
advanced practice RNs
to form corporations.
Plastic license.
Website established.
The term “Nurse” becomes a
protected title for licensed
nurses. Health care providers
must wear identification.
Fifth state to enact the Nurse
Licensure Compact for
multistate privilege to practice.
Renewals by birth month
instead of 12-31.
July, Implementation of
On-line Renewals
Nurse Licensure Compact. Mandatory Criminal
Background Checks for
initial licensure.
Discontinued Temporary
License for exam
applicants.
Alternative Program for
Chemical Dependency
established.
2001
Re-design of Bulletin/
logo/website.
2002
On-line
Endorsement
Applications
Established the
Foundation for
Nursing Excellence.